Crossposted at Daily Kos and EENR Blog

This diary will be relatively brief because it’s a very straightforward item. It’s almost primary day here in the Fifth District and another organization is making it known that Rick Vilello is the man they want down in Washington, D.C. fighting for them. Follow me below the fold to hear all about it.

We just received word that Rick has been endorsed by UA Local 520 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Local 520 represents working people in 23 central Pennsylvania counties. Some of the companies they do work for on a regular basis include CVS, Wegmans, and my alma mater, Penn State.  read more »

Cross posted at Daily Kos and EENR Blog

As all of you know, the Pennsylvania primary is coming up on April 22. And as I’m sure you know, there’s more than just the Presidential primary on the ballot. For instance, there is the primary in the PA-05 on April 22 as well. I’ve discussed Mayor Rick Vilello on here numerous times, and every time I’ve brought up the fact that he has the experience and ability to unify that will serve this district better than any other candidate in the race. However, I’ve never specifically dealt with the work that he has done during his long career here in Lock Haven. I’ll be rectifying that after the fold.  read more »

Crossposted at Daily Kos and EENRBlog

As many of you know, I am the chief blogger for the Rick Vilello campaign here in the PA-05. (I’ve been thinking of changing my title to Netroots Coordinator. What do you think?) Today, I would like to talk to you about Iraq. Specifically, I would like to talk to you about Rick Vilello’s views on Iraq. Although he has already put out his core values on the subject, we felt it was important to make a more specific statement on this vital issue. Follow me below the fold for more.  read more »

Cross-posted at Daily Kos and EENR Blog

There has been a lot of talk lately about endorsements here in the PA-05, so I thought I would weigh in on the discussion with my own thoughts. From what I’ve seen over my years in my politics, the main difference in endorsements is between people who have been elected and know exactly what is needed to make a difference as a political leader, and those who have been involved in following those elected leaders in spreading the message. Both of these groups of people are important and nothing can be accomplished without them. But, in my mind, it’s the people who have been there before, the people who know exactly what is needed to be an effective leader and political actor, who offer the most telling and effective endorsements.  read more »

This is cross posted from Daily Kos.

My name is Rick Vilello and I am running for Congress in the Fifth District in Pennsylvania. I promised everyone in my last diary that I would come back and answer some more questions if you left them. I would like to address a series of questions left by Scubaval because I think they are very important issues and they deserve to be dealt with openly, honestly, and in-depth. She asked about a woman’s right to choose, torture, Guantanamo Bay, mountaintop removal mining, public financing of campaigns, and Iran. Scubaval also asked if I was comfortable running as a progressive in my district. I’d like to take these each in turn.  read more »

According to the Capitol Briefing blog at the Washington Post (located at http://blog.washingtonpost.com/capitol-briefing/20…) Arlen Specter was unable to even decide how he wanted to vote when it came down to whether or not Bush administration officials should be subpoenaed to appear before the Judiciary Committee. On voice vote, when the ayes were called for, all the Democrats and Chuck Grassley of Iowa voted ayes and Specter looked like his lips moved but said nothing. When the nays were asked for, Specter’s lips remained motionless.  read more »